The multifunctional beta-oxidation enzyme is required for full symptom development by the biotrophic maize pathogen Ustilago maydis.

ABSTRACT: The transition from yeast-like to filamentous growth in the biotrophic fungal phytopathogen Ustilago maydis is a crucial event for pathogenesis. Previously, we showed that fatty acids induce filamentation in U. maydis and that the resulting hyphal cells resemble the infectious filaments observed in planta. To explore the potential metabolic role of lipids in the morphological transition and in pathogenic development in host tissue, we deleted the mfe2 gene encoding the multifunctional enzyme that catalyzes the second and third reactions in beta-oxidation of fatty acids in peroxisomes. The growth of the strains defective in mfe2 was attenuated on long-chain fatty acids and abolished on very-long-chain fatty acids. The mfe2 gene was not generally required for the production of filaments duri

SUBMITTER: Klose J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1694828 | biostudies-literature | 2006 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature